William Ryerson, Founder and President of Population Media Center Awarded the Nafis Sadik Prize for Courage in Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark – On June 13th 2006 at the Annual General Meeting of the Rotarian Action Group on Population and Development, Population Media Center (PMC) founder and president, William Ryerson of Shelburne, Vermont was awarded the Nafis Sadik Prize for Courage. The award recognized his 35 year dedication to the field of reproductive health. The prize is named after the previous Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In addition the Rotarian Action Group on Population and Development named Ryerson a Paul Harris Fellow.

Ryerson gave a key note address at the annual meeting, which was held as a part of the International Rotary Conference. His talk covered the issue of population, the need for motivational communications to slow population growth, the work of PMC worldwide, and the joint project PMC and Rotary are conducting in northern Nigeria to combat the problem of obstetric fistula. PMC is producing a radio program to promote delaying marriage and childbearing until adulthood and to promote the maternal health through having professional birth attendants on hand for childbirth. The Rotary is doing surgical repairs for fistula victims.